Google+ is using all my data traffic

Irish Stones

I have a problem with Google+.
Two days ago it asked me to upload to a cloud all the photos I have in my phone, I refused and I thought the issue was over.
This morning I took my phone and I found it very hot, so I looked into the data traffic and found out that Google+ was using, or had used up, all my data traffic, so at the moment I have no traffic left until the 10th of this month when the monthly traffic will be restored.
I don't know if the transfer was complete, I disabled the data traffic on the phone when I found out what was going on.
It happened before some months ago, I felt a heat in my rear pocket (where I keep my phone) and found out that it was transferring all photos in the cloud.
I think that this is a different cloud, because all the photos had been uploaded already and so far I had them all in the cloud, so I presume that Google has activated a new account and the transfer started over.
How can I prevent this thing now and in the future?
Thanks!

SpaceTime

Just turn off any automatic backups to Google+

I find it's becoming an increasingly intrusive service.

Red Nissan

SpaceTime wrote: »

Just turn off any automatic backups to Google+

I find it's becoming an increasingly intrusive service.

And a bit of a bully too.

same ol sh1te

Or you could just upload over Wi-Fi and be done with it, then set it in Google+ to only upload over Wi-Fi and when charging and it won't use any data and your stuff will be backed up

SpaceTime

It's *almost* making me think about alternative mobile operating systems. iOS, Windows, Firefox OS etc.

I'm not loving the direction Google is going with android anymore.

Irish Stones

OK, done, but how did it happen that it was uploading the same photos it had already uploaded in the past?
It was halfway of the backup when I stopped it. It would have used twice as much my allowed monthly data traffic if I hadn't realized.

Irish Stones

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Or you could just upload over Wi-Fi and be done with it, then set it in Google+ to only upload over Wi-Fi and when charging and it won't use any data and your stuff will be backed up

That is a very good idea.
But the invasive conduct of Google remains.

same ol sh1te

SpaceTime wrote: »

It's *almost* making me think about alternative mobile operating systems. iOS, Windows, Firefox OS etc.

I'm not loving the direction Google is going with android anymore.

How's that, they're splitting the Google+ and photo apps

http://mashable.com/2014/08/01/google-separating-google-plus-photos/

Android is an ecosystem, just like iOS, Windows etc

allthedoyles

Its not just on android , it is G+ in general .

I ain't happy with it either , and even when on you tube it makes suggestions I dont agree with .

I have tried to delete some stuff on it , but cant work out how ,.

Sonics2k

Irish Stones wrote: »

That is a very good idea.
But the invasive conduct of Google remains.

You mean the stuff you opt into?

Irish Stones

Sonics2k wrote: »

You mean the stuff you opt into?

I didn't opt into anything.
The backup started on its own, last night the phone was on the table, this morning was hot and uploading.
As I wrote, a previous backup to a Google cloud was started and completed in March, so I don't understand the use for a second backup to another cloud. And I don't understand how it decided to do that.

Fresh Pots

Irish Stones wrote: »

I didn't opt into anything.
The backup started on its own, last night the phone was on the table, this morning was hot and uploading.
As I wrote, a previous backup to a Google cloud was started and completed in March, so I don't understand the use for a second backup to another cloud. And I don't understand how it decided to do that.

It would have been updating your march backup. Just turn off auto upload or switch it to on WiFi only.

/thread

same ol sh1te

Irish Stones wrote: »

I didn't opt into anything.

Yes you did. You opted into Google services when you first signed in on the phone

Irish Stones

Fresh Pots wrote: »

It would have been updating your march backup. Just turn off auto upload or switch it to on WiFi only.

/thread

Since March the auto backup had been enabled and every photo I took was automatically sent to the cloud, so there was no need to update anything.
Yesterday morning I browsed my on-line album and all the photos were there.
This morning it ate up all the remaining traffic! :mad:

Irish Stones

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Yes you did. You opted into Google services when you first signed in on the phone

Alright, this was over one year ago and as I said all the photos were already backed up.
Probably some term or condition has changed or it thought it was necessary to do that again, but given the possible massive use of data it should have noticed me about that prior to starting.

SpaceTime

Irish Stones wrote: »

I didn't opt into anything.
The backup started on its own, last night the phone was on the table, this morning was hot and uploading.
As I wrote, a previous backup to a Google cloud was started and completed in March, so I don't understand the use for a second backup to another cloud. And I don't understand how it decided to do that.

Happened to me too. I discovered an unshared album on G+ with all my photos. I just feel it's a huge invasion of privacy. I don't think I opted in. It's not the kind of thing I'd agree to and I'm pretty IT and tech savvy so I don't think I did it by accident either.

I just fundamentally disagree with anything storing every image from my camera in a server somewhere and even worse it's blurring the lone between cloud backup and social media. That's just damn creepy.

I used to use my phone camera for taking photos of receipts, documents etc
No more! I simply don't trust Android anymore.

listermint

Irish Stones wrote: »

Alright, this was over one year ago and as I said all the photos were already backed up.
Probably some term or condition has changed or it thought it was necessary to do that again, but given the possible massive use of data it should have noticed me about that prior to starting.

You can turn all of this off quite easily. It is about 3 clicks with your thumb.


Please excuse me if im having difficulty understanding why this is still a problem


Your probably someone who would also give about losing your photos and contacts if the phone was stolen.


All these services are customisable you dont HAVE to use them.

SpaceTime

Listemint: those settings aren't actually all that easy to find and it should be a hell of a lot more transparent when a service like that's being enabled you should get several warnings and there should be a periodic notice to let you know it's still enabled.

Too much data slurping will ultimately hurt Android.

The OS is good but Google have baked G+ into loads of stuff.

I don't even review apps or use YouTube comments anymore because of it.

Also most users don't spend that much time looking at the privacy settings on their phone or G+.

I'm finding G+ is making Facebook look almost like it's a champion of data protection rights!

Also blind defence of a mega corp like Google, Apple, Microsoft etc is a little silly. They all lose the run of themselves eventually and should be critiqued at all times!

same ol sh1te

SpaceTime wrote: »

Listemint: those settings aren't actually all that easy to find and it should be a hell of a lot more transparent when a service like that's being enabled you should get several warnings and there should be a periodic notice to let you know it's still enabled.

Too much data slurping will ultimately hurt Android.

The OS is good but Google have baked G+ into loads of stuff.

I don't even review apps or use YouTube comments anymore because of it.

Also most users don't spend that much time looking at the privacy settings on their phone or G+.

I'm finding G+ is making Facebook look almost like it's a champion of data protection rights!

Also blind defence of a mega corp like Google, Apple, Microsoft etc is a little silly. They all lose the run of themselves eventually and should be critiqued at all times!

Sorry, I don't understand. Google+ does not upload photos unless you actually turn it on and then it notifies you every time it does so. The settings are not obscure, open Google+, into settings and there's a whole auto-backup sub menu.

SpaceTime

Well my HTC One M8 was mysteriously uploading pics and I never opted into anything that I can remember anyway.

BionicRasher

SpaceTime wrote: »

Well my HTC One M8 was mysteriously uploading pics and I never opted into anything that I can remember anyway.

You have to agree to the Terms and conditions of Google and Google+ when you sign in to your account on the phone. Auto upload is turned off by default until you turn it on
You also get notifications of uploads

I find the auto backup invaluable and it's really not hard to turn it off if you want to

same ol sh1te

SpaceTime wrote: »

Well my HTC One M8 was mysteriously uploading pics and I never opted into anything that I can remember anyway.

I did some hunting and it turns out it is enabled by default if you have agreed to have it on when setting up your Google account on the phone. You have to agree to many things, sync Google+ albums and syncing contacts etc. It uploads photos as you take them, but does not upload other folders.

http://www.theandroidportal.com/disable-auto-backup-photos-videos/

ThisRegard

SpaceTime wrote: »

Listemint: those settings aren't actually all that easy to find and it should be a hell of a lot more transparent when a service like that's being enabled you should get several warnings and there should be a periodic notice to let you know it's still enabled.

You do. Only this week an app created a folder in my gallery and when the photos were getting backed up a message appeared in the bar saying a new folder was found, press to a manage the back up settings. As has been said, you also always get a message telling you when, and how many, photos have been backed up.

same ol sh1te wrote: »

It uploads photos as you take them, but does not upload other folders.

You can of if you want. For example it backs up any photos sent to me in Viber, which I can turn off if I wish.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Irish Stones

listermint wrote: »

Your probably someone who would also give about losing your photos and contacts if the phone was stolen.

I value the possibility of having a backup of my data, but these photos had been backed up once some months ago. And every new photo taken was immediately uploaded to Google Photo and to Dropbox. On Friday morning I saw that on both clouds there were the last three photos I had taken the day before, so I don't understand the need to create a new backup on a different cloud space.
Contacts are backed up on my PC regularly.

Irish Stones

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand. Google+ does not upload photos unless you actually turn it on and then it notifies you every time it does so.

Actually Google notifies you after the backup is complete, not before doing it.
If I take a photo then Google+ updates the Photo album and only AFTER that it sends me a message of successful backup.

same ol sh1te

Irish Stones wrote: »

Actually Google notifies you after the backup is complete, not before doing it.
If I take a photo then Google+ updates the Photo album and only AFTER that it sends me a message of successful backup.

Yes, that's what I meant.

Yours was a bug, a strange one as you already had them backed up

timetogo

Just restrict background data on all app that you don't want to work over 3g. Takes two minutes and you're done.

Irish Stones

timetogo wrote: »

Just restrict background data on all app that you don't want to work over 3g. Takes two minutes and you're done.

Wouldn't this affect data exchange for other applications like WhatsApp or the Weather widget?

same ol sh1te

Irish Stones wrote: »

Wouldn't this affect data exchange for other applications like WhatsApp or the Weather widget?

You do it individually, per app

Sully

I like the idea of a cloud backup but I dislike the way my photos appear on Google Plus tbh.

Tails142

Dropbox also tries to backup your photos to the cloud so check that if your data is still being used up.

Mr E

Read the screens when you're setting these services up (rather than clicking next, next, next) and you'll be fine.

Mantis Toboggan

Sully wrote: »

I like the idea of a cloud backup but I dislike the way my photos appear on Google Plus tbh.

Yes, but their only visible to you.

mondeo

I disabled the Google + app completely.

Sonics2k

Sully wrote: »

I like the idea of a cloud backup but I dislike the way my photos appear on Google Plus tbh.

All the photos go into a private folder, just like Dropbox or iCloud or OneDrive.

At the op, the photo back up is an opt in service and it asks you if you want to use it when you initially sign in with a Google account on the phone, and again when you first open the Photos app on the phone.

It is not invasive, it is a photo backup tool that works just like any other photo backup or Picassa which Google used to use.

You are notified when photos upload to the account, are able to disable it completely or simply set it to only upload when on WiFi.

Fantastic service I find, I use a few phones and its great to be able to make sure both my personal and work pictures are always safe.

Dinosaur Controller

SpaceTime wrote: »

I'm pretty IT and tech savvy

People who say that never are.

Sully

Buddy Holly wrote: »

Yes, but their only visible to you.

Sonics2k wrote: »

All the photos go into a private folder, just like Dropbox or iCloud or OneDrive.

At the op, the photo back up is an opt in service and it asks you if you want to use it when you initially sign in with a Google account on the phone, and again when you first open the Photos app on the phone.

It is not invasive, it is a photo backup tool that works just like any other photo backup or Picassa which Google used to use.

You are notified when photos upload to the account, are able to disable it completely or simply set it to only upload when on WiFi.

Fantastic service I find, I use a few phones and its great to be able to make sure both my personal and work pictures are always safe.

Thanks. I was aware of the feature and didn't object to it but when I saw this thread it dawned on me that the photos may be at a public viewing on my Google + account.

SpaceTime

Dinosaur Controller wrote: »

People who say that never are.

Ah sure Google are a great bunch altogether and would always be absolutely 100% ahead of the curve when it comes to data protection.

You'd really have to laugh at both Google and Apple 'fanbois' who seem to get highly defensive of what are essentially an advertising / data mining company and a consumer products corporation.

To me Google+ is all that's wrong with these companies. It's trying to be an identification service and it's also trying to force people to use their real identity in places they don't necessarily want to and to connect things using social media that people aren't necessarily comfortable with or even aware of some of the time.

Google are pushing G+ into more and more services and they're not making its use optional. I have ended up with things like my Android phone pestering me to activate Picasa and G+ backups to my business Google Apps account.

When you comment on a YouTube clip or review an app on the Play Store, you don't necessarily want that to be linked to a social networking application.

This whole idea of linking backups to social media in Android is just plain creepy.

shewasdiesel

I've done the uber unpopular thing and gone back to Microsoft for most things, Google have become shyte beyond belief

IDencI

Irish Stones wrote: »

Alright, this was over one year ago and as I said all the photos were already backed up.
Probably some term or condition has changed or it thought it was necessary to do that again, but given the possible massive use of data it should have noticed me about that prior to starting.

Hah havent you learned that google dont notify people when they sign you up for stuff? Silly you :') You think people would learn after the whole G+ thing, which i dont agree with either...

SpaceTime

I think forcing G+ membership to review apps is a hugely retrograde step.
It's very important that apps in store that people are free to review apps in a very open way. Play Store has 'light touch curation' rather than active management like the AppStore on iOS devices so user review are very important!

Android's a great OS, but Google's going to want to monetize it somehow.

If there's one thing that people who are actually IT or marketing savvy are aware of, it's that there's no such thing as a free lunch and Android is most certainly not a free OS. There's a business plan behind it somewhere.

same ol sh1te

SpaceTime wrote: »

I think forcing G+ membership to review apps is a hugely retrograde step.
It's very important that apps in store that people are free to review apps in a very open way. Play Store has 'light touch curation' rather than active management like the AppStore on iOS devices so user review are very important!

I think it was trying to fix the mess that was anonymous YT and app comments before they introduced it. It seems to have calmed down YT comments, not half as much hate and spam

Sully

same ol sh1te wrote: »

I think it was trying to fix the mess that was anonymous YT and app comments before they introduced it. It seems to have calmed down YT comments, not half as much hate and spam

What's wrong with logging in from other social media platforms?

Irish Stones

Tails142 wrote: »

Dropbox also tries to backup your photos to the cloud so check that if your data is still being used up.

I think that Dropbox is much more honest and transparent, because so far I haven't had any trouble with them, my photos have been backed up on my account only once, they're not invasive and have never asked me to sign up or opt into any mysterious or useless service.
And until a few days ago Google+ wasn't that bad either.

ThisRegard

SpaceTime wrote: »

I think forcing G+ membership to review apps is a hugely retrograde step.
It's very important that apps in store that people are free to review apps in a very open way. Play Store has 'light touch curation' rather than active management like the AppStore on iOS devices so user review are very important!

Android's a great OS, but Google's going to want to monetize it somehow.

If there's one thing that people who are actually IT or marketing savvy are aware of, it's that there's no such thing as a free lunch and Android is most certainly not a free OS. There's a business plan behind it somewhere.

The business plan is for you to buy into their complete eco system, there's no secret about that. If people thought android was for the good of humanity how naive could you be.

Irish Stones

Sonics2k wrote: »

At the op, the photo back up is an opt in service and it asks you if you want to use it when you initially sign in with a Google account on the phone, and again when you first open the Photos app on the phone.

It is not invasive, it is a photo backup tool that works just like any other photo backup or Picassa which Google used to use.

You are notified when photos upload to the account, are able to disable it completely or simply set it to only upload when on WiFi.

Alright, but the back up of my photo already exists and is updated at every new photo or video. Why waste bandwidth for something that had already been done?
As for the notification, it only occurs when the back up is completed, all the job is done while nobody realizes, no authorization asked... I realized of that only because I took my phone and I felt it hot. Unfortunately in that moment half of my photos had been uploaded and all my available data traffic had been used.

same ol sh1te

Sully wrote: »

What's wrong with logging in from other social media platforms?

Likewise, can you use your Google profile to login to the other social platforms? Twitter, Facebook etc

Mantis Toboggan

You do realise that you can turn off auto backup?

I find it a great service. Does all the work for me. Have it set to only back up over wifi therefore not to incur additional charges.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

SpaceTime

Getting you into the Eco system is only part of how they monetise it. A huge percentage of the revenue stream will come from advertising and using you as a source of marketing data.

Apple makes money on hardware and taking a much more significant cut on the AppStore. Google makes very little directly out of any service. They're all harvesting data and pitching adverts.